December 2021
A Note from Dr. Wendy Watson, Principal
Hello everyone! I’m happy to launch our first Raven Review newsletter which you can expect to receive in an email the first week of every month. After last spring’s process of changing our mascot to the Ravens, it was a perfect time to consider transitions to our newsletter too. A HUGE thank you to student office secretary, Thérèse Sweat, who will be largely responsible for producing the monthly Raven Review. There are other transitions happening as well that come with choosing a new mascot. We are in the process of working with graphic designers on our new logo which means students in our athletic programs will be getting new uniforms! It will take the remainder of the year to make that happen, but I’m hoping we’ll see some uniforms by the spring. The graphic design process will be done by early January and everyone will see our new logo on our newsletter, website, stationary, and throughout the school building. Exciting times ahead for the Ravens!
Character Traits of the Month:
Caring and Kindness
Spokane Garry’s Student of the Month program focuses on a different character trait each month. Throughout the month staff look for students who display the character trait and at the end of the month they are invited to nominate one student that they believe demonstrates that trait. Students are awarded a certificate along with a pizza card and other items. Their names are also displayed on the bulletin board and our PowerPoint TV.
 
December’s character trait is Caring/Kindness. Students who display this trait will show genuine care and concern for the welfare of others by being kind and supportive and by helping others.
Courage/Perseverance
Students of the Month
October's character trait of the month was courage and perseverance. Here are the wonderful students nominated by staff for being courageous and persevering:
Mercury Thomas
Patrick Daniels
Shealynn Lee
Mathew Deno
Justin Bellinger
Jayden Brekke
Akiah Foye
Ken Rose
Abigail Garber
Marie Akwonkwa
Gunner McFarlane
Gabriel Jeson
Mason Conklin
Anthoney Dougherty
Kaleb McCallum
Thunder Thomas
Degan Walker
Danni Doyle
Calli Widger
Winter Holidays and Early Dismissal
Spokane Garry Middle School will be closed for winter holidays from DECEMBER 20 to DECEMBER 31. The first day back for students will be Monday, January 3. Have a wonderful time!
Students will be released early at 2:15pm on December 10th for a Teacher Collaboration day.
December Music Performances
The Spokane Garry Middle School Music Department will have their first live music concert of the year!

December 2
6:30pm
Location: Spokane Garry Gym


Choir Rehearsal with Lidgerwood Choir: 3:30-4:30 in the Spokane Garry Music Room
Dinner: will be provided from 4:30-6:30 to students who cannot make it back in time for the performance and will stay at the school. (Please let Ms. Thomas know if there are any allergies.)
Uniforms: Shirts will be provided. Students are expected to wear their own black pants and shoes.
Pre-Concert Focus: 6:00-6:30

Students will be provided with two tickets each for guests. Chairs will be set 6ft apart in family groups.
GUESTS MUST WEAR MASKS
The Advanced Band, Choir, and Orchestra will also be performing at RiverPark Square on

December 10th
RiverPark Square
5:00pm

Students participating will leave school on two buses at 4:00pm
End of Mid-Quarter
Mid-quarter 2 is ending soon! Mid-quarter progress reports will be distributed to students on December 15th.
Spokane Garry Community Center
The new Spokane Garry Community Center (SGCC) is still under construction in the northwest corner, first floor classroom by the tennis courts. Due to national supply constraints across the nation, we are still waiting for windows to arrive. However, we hope to open the doors in the beginning of January. The SGCC will house in-school and community support programs for students throughout the day and sometimes before and after school. Programs include: Communities in Schools & Clothing Bank, Garry Personalized Learning, Raven Circle (Zone Project), Bite-2-Go, Stand for Children, College Success Foundation, Create Your Statement, and Gonzaga programs including Eye to Eye, Connections, and GAME. Students and families will have a great place to get wrap-around services so we can all focus on kids working towards their big, beautiful future. 😊
AVID Students for Quarter 1
Our AVID elective students have been selected for Quarter 1!

The following students have been recognized for their attendance, grades, and perseverance in the classroom during the first nine weeks of school. Thank you for being such positive role models throughout Spokane Garry Middle School!

Mrs. Sargent’s 6th period class: 7th grader Ellie Anderson
Mrs. Tramp’s 5th period class:  8th grader Sophia DeMasi
Mrs. Tramp’s 6th period class: 8th grader Sahil Sahebzada  
PSAT8 Scores
BIG, BEAUTIFUL FUTURES!

We have been talking to students all fall about their big, beautiful futures and how the work and attention they are putting into their studies are setting themselves up for future successes. A piece of this visioning for their future is our 8th graders taking the PSAT8, the test from the College Board that is aligned in the SAT suite of assessments. Our 8th graders took the PSAT8 on Wednesday, October 13, and we will get scores and reports back soon. The College Board and Khan Academy have a partnership that when students take the tests in the SAT suite of assessments, they can access their scores online and have access to resources through Khan Academy to help them continue to prepare for the PSAT and SAT as they move into high school. Score and resources typically become available the first couple of weeks in December. Stay tuned for information about accessing these reports and resources. 

Transition Forms and Boundary Changes
To put on your radar, coming up in January 2022, we will begin the registration process for the 22-23 school year. Current 8th graders will register for high school and there will be communication coming around information nights in January – please look for those. For 7th graders, we will work in Advisory classes during the month of February around selecting classes for the 22-23 school year. We will also have resources available online to help with the registration conversation. For current 5th & 6th graders from Arlington Elementary, Whitman Elementary and Lidgerwood Elementary, we will be working with the teachers in those school around registering for classes at the end of January and into February. More information about class offerings to come in the month of January. For information about the boundary changes and transition of current 5th & 6th graders to 6th and 7th grade for the 22-23 school year, please visit our district website.
Upcoming Sports
We have had a great turn out for Girls Volleyball! We have 97 students participating on either the JV or varsity 7th or 8th grade team! The 7th grade JV volleyball have won 2 out of 3 games so far! The 8th grade girls JV have won 1 out of 2.

The 7th grade volleyball season is from October 25th December 1st. The 8th grade volleyball season is from October 25th – December 13th. The following upcoming sports are as follows:

7th/8th Wrestling February 11 March 26
7th Boys/Girls Basketball January 3 March 26
8th Boys/Girls Basketball February 14 March 31
7th/8th Track & Field April 11 May 27
7th/8th Baseball April 11 May 27


If you would like to join a Spokane Garry Ravens sports team, sign up or register in Family ID here!
ASB Election Results
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW ASB OFFICERS!

8th Grade
President - Elizabeth Hoffman
Vice President - Melissa Pirie
Secretary - Aubrie Lowman
Treasurer - Alex Christensen

7th Grade
Vice President - Nemiah Westbrook
Secretary - Shaelynn Lee
Treasurer - Taylor Hoffman
Staff Spotlight
Lisa Kaiser - Office Manager


Describe what you do at Spokane Garry Middle School and how long you’ve worked here.
I am the office manager and this is my 24th year at Garry. I started part-time, moved to the business office then to office manager 9 years ago.
 
What do you love about your job? The thing I love most about my job are the students and staff. The Garry staff are a great group of people, and the students are so silly at this age.
 
How do you like to spend your time when you’re not at work? When I’m not at work you can find me riding my bike, reading, or spending time with my family.
 
What are your “trapped on a desert island” books or movies? If I were trapped on a desert island, I would want to have the Outlander series of books to read and any comedy to watch.
 
Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by? "Be like the lotus: trust in the light, grow through the dirt, believe in new beginnings."